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Friday, July 14, 2017

Assasination of Stylist Gianni Versace

July 15th, 1997 Assasination of Stylist Gianni Versace he was shot dead by Andrew Cunanan, a homosexual prostitute known for his obsession with all things luxury. It was not called a terrorist attack, and no one suspect an attack staged to look like it could be blamed on a homosexual psycho and not an attack directed by a foreign enemy. Andrew Phillip Cunanan (August 31, 1969 – July 24, 1997) was an American serial killer[1] who murdered at least five people, including fashion designer Gianni Versace and Chicago tycoon Lee Miglin, during a three-month period in mid-1997. On June 12, 1997, Cunanan became the 449th fugitive to be listed by the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The killing spree ended with Cunanan's suicide by firearm. He was 27 years old. In his final years, Cunanan had lived as a gay hustler, who befriended wealthy older men[2] Cunanan was born in National City, California, to Modesto Cunanan, a Filipino American, and Mary Anne Schillaci, an Italian American

The first two murders, near Minneapolis (Minnesota), began on April 27, 1997, with the death of San Diego acquaintance Jeffrey Trail, a former US naval officer and propane salesman, who had moved to Minneapolis. Cunanan beat Trail to death with a claw hammer and left his body rolled in a rug in a closet in a loft-apartment belonging to David Madson, his next victim.[3]

Architect David Madson had been Cunanan's lover, and his body was found on the east shore of Rush Lake near Rush City, Minnesota, on May 3, 1997 (four days later), with gunshot wounds to the head and back.[8][9]

Cunanan next drove to Chicago and killed 72-year-old Lee Miglin, a prominent real estate developer, on May 4, 1997. Miglin had been bound with duct tape on his hands and feet and his head had been wrapped with it. He was then stabbed over 20 times with a screwdriver and had his throat sawed open with a hacksaw.[10] Following this murder, the FBI added Cunanan to its Ten Most Wanted list.

Five days later, Cunanan, who took Miglin's car, found his fourth victim in Pennsville, New Jersey, at the Finn's Point National Cemetery, killing 45-year-old caretaker William Reese and taking his red pick-up truck. Reese had been shot to death.[10] While the manhunt focused on Reese's truck, Cunanan "hid in plain sight" in Miami Beach, Florida for two months between his fourth and fifth murders.[11] He even used his own name to pawn a stolen item, knowing that police routinely check pawn shop records for stolen merchandise.[12]

On July 15, 1997, Cunanan murdered Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace, with two gunshots on the front stairway of his Miami mansion.[13] A witness attempted to pursue him but could not catch him. The red truck he had used, as well as the clothes he had just been wearing, an alternative passport, and newspaper clippings of his murders, were found in a nearby parking garage by the police who responded.[5]Death[edit]

On July 24, 1997, nine days after killing Versace, Cunanan shot himself in the right temple in the upstairs bedroom of a Miamihouseboat. He used the same gun he had used to kill Madson, Reese, and Versace:[5][14] a Taurus PT100semi-automatic pistol in .40 S&Wcaliber, which had been stolen from the first victim, Jeff Trail. His cremated remains are interred in the Mausoleum at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in San Diego, California.[15]

He was murdered by Andrew Cunanan, who used the same gun to commit suicide on a boat eight days later. Police have said they do not know why Versace was killed.Cause of death‎: ‎Gunshot woundsResting place‎: ‎Near Cernobbio, ItalyAwards‎: ‎1993: American Fashion Oscar; 1986: ...Partner(s)‎: ‎Antonio D'Amico‎ (1982–1997)

Andrew Phillip Cunanan (August 31, 1969 – July 24, 1997) was an American serial killer who murdered at least five people, including fashion designer Gianni Versace and Chicago tycoon Lee Miglin, during a three-month period in mid-1997.

Andrew Phillip Cunanan (August 31, 1969 – July 24, 1997) was an American serial killer[1] who murdered at least five people, including fashion designer Gianni Versace and Chicago tycoon Lee Miglin, during a three-month period in mid-1997. On June 12, 1997, Cunanan became the 449th fugitive to be listed by the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The killing spree ended with Cunanan's suicide by firearm. He was 27 years old.

In his final years, Cunanan had lived as a gay hustler, who befriended wealthy older men[2] and spent their money (or used their credit cards) to impress acquaintances in the local gay community, such as talking about socialite events at clubs or often paying the bill at restaurants.[3] One millionaire friend had dumped Cunanan in 1996, the prior year.[3]

In 1981, Cunanan's father enrolled him in the Independent day school, The Bishop's School in the La Jollaneighborhood of San Diego. At school, Cunanan was remembered as being bright and very talkative, testing with an I.Q. of 147.[4] As a teenager, however, he developed a reputation as a prolific liar given to telling fantastic tales about his family and personal life. He was also adept at changing his appearance according to what he felt was most attractive at a given moment.

The first two murders, near Minneapolis (Minnesota), began on April 27, 1997, with the death of San Diego acquaintance Jeffrey Trail, a former US naval officer and propane salesman, who had moved to Minneapolis. Cunanan beat Trail to death with a claw hammer and left his body rolled in a rug in a closet in a loft-apartment belonging to David Madson, his next victim.[3]

Architect David Madson had been Cunanan's lover, and his body was found on the east shore of Rush Lake near Rush City, Minnesota, on May 3, 1997 (four days later), with gunshot wounds to the head and back.[8][9]

Cunanan next drove to Chicago and killed 72-year-old Lee Miglin, a prominent real estate developer, on May 4, 1997. Miglin had been bound with duct tape on his hands and feet and his head had been wrapped with it. He was then stabbed over 20 times with a screwdriver and had his throat sawed open with a hacksaw.[10] Following this murder, the FBI added Cunanan to its Ten Most Wanted list.

Five days later, Cunanan, who took Miglin's car, found his fourth victim in Pennsville, New Jersey, at the Finn's Point National Cemetery, killing 45-year-old caretaker William Reese and taking his red pick-up truck. Reese had been shot to death.[10] While the manhunt focused on Reese's truck, Cunanan "hid in plain sight" in Miami Beach, Florida for two months between his fourth and fifth murders.[11] He even used his own name to pawn a stolen item, knowing that police routinely check pawn shop records for stolen merchandise.[12]

On July 15, 1997, Cunanan murdered Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace, with two gunshots on the front stairway of his Miami mansion.[13] A witness attempted to pursue him but could not catch him. The red truck he had used, as well as the clothes he had just been wearing, an alternative passport, and newspaper clippings of his murders, were found in a nearby parking garage by the police who responded.[5]Death[edit]

On July 24, 1997, nine days after killing Versace, Cunanan shot himself in the right temple in the upstairs bedroom of a Miamihouseboat. He used the same gun he had used to kill Madson, Reese, and Versace:[5][14] a Taurus PT100semi-automatic pistol in .40 S&Wcaliber, which had been stolen from the first victim, Jeff Trail. His cremated remains are interred in the Mausoleum at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in San Diego, California.[15]Motive[edit]

Cunanan's precise motivation remains unknown. At the time of the murders, there was extensive public and press speculation that tied the crimes to Cunanan discovering that he was HIV positive; however, an autopsy found him to be HIV negative.[16][17]

Though police searched the houseboat where Cunanan died, he left no suicide note and few personal belongings,[2] surprising investigators, given his reputation for acquiring money and expensive possessions from wealthy older men.[2] Police considered few of the findings to be of note, except multiple tubes of hydrocortisone cream and a fairly extensive collection of the fiction of C. S. Lewis.[2][18][19]In popular culture[edit]

Donatella Versace. Photo: Patrick Kovarik/AFP
AFPnews@thelocal.it
14 July 2017
14:09 CEST+02:00
Twenty years ago, stylist Gianni Versace was gunned down in Miami, plunging his fashion house into crisis. Two decades on, it is one of the world's top global luxury brands thanks to his little sister, Donatella

He had gone out for the morning papers: as Versace returned to his Miami beach mansion on July 15th, 1997, he was shot dead by Andrew Cunanan, a homosexual prostitute known for his obsession with all things luxury.